The Providence group began in 2018. Last fall, Dr. Carla Martin — a clinician professor at Brown’s medical school — launched a new group in nearby Central Falls with monthly walks at River Island Park. Across both chapters, first-year Brown medical students in doctoring and lifestyle medicine courses walk with community members, as a complement to their clinical training.

Virginia Vaughn of Providence joins nearly every weekend for the chance to ask Stump and Cohen health questions that don’t always fit into a typical checkup.  

“When you’re in the doctor’s office, you have one or two things you want to talk about — but then forget the third or fourth,” Vaughn said. “This is just easier and friendlier.”

Unlike a rushed appointment, the walks offer a relaxed space to ask questions, follow up on something she’s read, or simply listen and learn, she said. 

Each session begins with a short health talk. Stump and Cohen cover practical topics ranging from sleep apnea and colon cancer to memory, balance, heart health and the benefits of daily movement. On a recent Saturday, before a three-mile loop through India Point Park, Stump shared tips for managing seasonal allergies, outlining symptoms, common triggers, and ways to reduce exposure and discomfort.

So what happens when the talk ends: Are walkers free to ask anything? Absolutely, Stump said — and they do.

“I always say it’s like a mini primary care visit,” Stump said. “People ask about anything — head to toe, inside or out. Anything’s fair game, and that’s the point. We’re here to chat, be available and offer guidance in a low-pressure setting. Most people understand this isn’t about prescribing medications or formal treatment — it’s about talking through everyday health concerns, focusing on prevention and just being a resource.”

A path to wellness  

For Stump, equally important is simply getting people moving. Walking, she said, is one of the most effective ways to improve health. In her work as a primary care doctor at Brown Physicians, Inc., she integrates her other certifications in integrative and lifestyle medicine — an approach that emphasizes movement, nutrition, sleep, social connection and mental health as core tools to prevent and manage chronic conditions.

“When you think about diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure, if you go through those pillars, these conditions can be managed through diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes,” Stump said. “Walk with a Doc is a great way to see that in action.”

That same philosophy shapes her teaching. At the Warren Alpert Medical School, she leads the lifestyle medicine clinical elective and serves as an advisor to the student-led Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group. She’s helping to train the next generation of physicians to integrate prevention-focused care into their clinical practice.

First-year medical student Stella Ng, a co-leader of the interest group, said the prevention-first approach is already shaping how she thinks about her future in medicine, and participating in Walk with a Doc helps bridge medical training with patient connection. 

“It reminds me of the many ways we can show up for our patients,” Ng said. “It’s one thing to tell someone they need 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. It’s another to walk alongside them and show what that actually looks like. Lifestyle counseling can feel abstract in the exam room — but here, with Walk with a Doc, we take small, tangible steps together to help patients reach their goals.”

When the Central Falls walking group launched last year, Brown medical students offered blood pressure screenings and led talks on how to lower blood pressure through diet and exercise. The group, like its Providence counterpart, welcomes everyone, from future doctors to Rhode Islanders who are just beginning their health journeys. 

Sonia Rodriguez of Smithfield, Rhode Island, has walked with the Providence group for four years, drawn by the fresh air, connection with others, and the motivation to stay mentally and physically active.

“Being outside, meeting people, exchanging ideas — it keeps me energized,” Rodriguez said. “You learn something new or reinforce what you already know, but in a different way. Having a doctor out here, without the white coat, makes it feel more real. And in a world where so many people feel isolated, this group reminds me how important human connection really is.”